My Ferrari collection

[mrm]

One has to commend Mattel for actually making the models faithful to their respective originals with minute differences, like the grilles and the different vents in the fenders. 

 

[caapa]

14 hours ago, mrm said:

One has to commend Mattel for actually making the models faithful to their respective originals with minute differences, like the grilles and the different vents in the fenders. 

 

Hallo MATTEL,

may I hope that this will be in the 1:64 Main Line ? I would be the first buyer!

[mrm]

33 minutes ago, caapa said:

Hallo MATTEL,

may I hope that this will be in the 1:64 Main Line ? I would be the first buyer!

Unfortunately, Mattel chose not to renew their license with Ferrari few years back. The company that picked the license is Bburago, which is owned by Maisto. 

[mrm]

Mattel made two more variations of the 575 Z. One was the all red one in their premium SE line, which I did not buy and our days is hard to find. The other I did get and I'm showing you bellow. It differs in having only one vent on the side of front fenders vs two, having US market side markers and rolling on different modular wheels.

 

[mrm]

With its siblings and the production car that it is based on...

[Gramps46]

Dang it!!  I really like the 575 Zagato but I cannot find a diecast in 1/24.  The vintage touches really make it special.

[mrm]

On 8/20/2022 at 10:01 AM, Gramps46 said:

Dang it!!  I really like the 575 Zagato but I cannot find a diecast in 1/24.  The vintage touches really make it special.

I am not 100% sure, but I don’t think there are any models of the 575Z in 1/24(5) by any manufacturer in metal, plastic or otherwise. As far as I know, the only other company to make any models of this car is Looksmart in 1:43. 

[mrm]

So, the Ferrari 575 GTZ was approved by Ferrari as the 575 group's swan song under the condition of not showing it at the Geneva Auto Salon at the same time as Ferrari was introducing their replacement for the 575M. That car was the Ferrari 599 GTB. Altho the overall formula of Front engined, rear wheel drive, V12 powered, two seat grand tourer remained the same, the new car could not be any more different than the previous 550/575 cars. It's engine based on the unit used in the Enzo supercar is good for 620hp @ 7600rpm (not bad for a big V12) and 205mph top speed, which at the time makes it the fastest production Ferrari. 

Since the company has already used the birthplace of the company- Modena and the factory's location- Maranello to name their recent models, the new flagship of the company was named Fiorano. For those not familiar with teh name, it is the racetrack adjacent to the factory in Maranello. Every road car, prototype or race car produced by Ferrari is developed and tested on their own private race track - Fiorano. 

 

FERRARI 599 GTB FIORANO - Mattel Elite

[mrm]

Forgot to add, that this model was never sold in this color combination. Mattel made the model in red with much darker beige interior and black brake calipers. The creme interior was swapped from another 599 Fiorano, also from the Elite range. I have taken apart, rebuilt, repainted, modified and customized more Mattel Elite 599 Fioranos than I care to remember. I mean dozens. 

[Gramps46]

It is a striking car and model.  Thank you sharing it with us.

[mrm]

9 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

It is a striking car and model.  Thank you sharing it with us.

Thank you Gary.

While Mattel had the exclusive Ferrari license, they put out some truly amazing diecast models. Besides the details, like all the photoetched grilles, carpeted interiors, vacuformed acetate windows, realistic hinges etc., what amazes me the most is the sheer number of different models and their subject matter that got released by the "Barbie maker"> At the time a lot of diecast snobs were talking trash on Mattel and now are wishing Mattel still had the license. 

I personally prefer the 550 Maranello design. It is much more refined and better balanced. Fragile almost. It is gracious and timeless, with the newer designs looking bulky and bloated in comparison. 

Here's a picture to put things in perspective. Keep in mind that the 550 Maranello is no small car. Compared to a C6 Corvette for example, it is 5" longer, 4" wider and 1" taller.

Edited August 24, 2022 by mrm

[mrm]

Altho I have Ferraris in any scale from 1:87 to 1:8 in my collection, which has long ago gone into the 4 digits, my passion for Ferraris goes beyond models. It is a company with probably richest automotive sport history and a legendary status that involves so many personalities and stories, that the models are just part of my memorabilia collection. Very important part of my collection are books. Most Ferrari books are not something you go to Barnes and Nobles and buy off the shelf. At least not the good ones. A prime example is the book bellow, which documented Ferrari's commercial stunt in 2006, which was designed to promote the reliability of their current-then 599 model. 

   Basically Ferrari took two stock 599 Fiorano models, one painted red and the other painted blue, and sent them on a 20 000 miles journey. And what a journey it was! The Panamerican 20 000 started in Brazil, from where 50 different journalists from around the world, over the next 84 days drove the two Ferraris through Latin America up north, through the Panama Canal and Mexico to the US West Coast and then across to the East Coast, where it ended in New York, after going for a short wile in Canada too. The idea was to demonstrate the quality and reliability of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano in conditions Ferraris never find themselves in and on roads they pretty much never turn a wheel on. From gravel roads, through jungles, the above see level heights of the passes of the Andes to the high temperatures of the desert and the traffic of New York City.

In each country the Ferraris received different vinyl stickers on their hoods and the journalists received corresponding T-shirts. I have managed to acquire few of those T-shirts together with some other items, which compliment the two models Mattel made. The first is the blue car, which represents the starting point in Rio de Janeiro.

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by mrm

[Gramps46]

Impressive collection indeed.

[mrm]

The Ferrari 599 attracted a lot of tuners too. It was the first flagship Ferrari model to do so since the Testarossa and the wild Koenig Specials creations of the 1980s and '90s. 

This model was extensively modified by me. From the integrated roof scoop, through the full aero package, to the machined rims and custom paint and interior. I made thirteen of these and sold all by one. No two were the same. 

 

HAMANN 599 MRM models

[NYLIBUD]

Wow that is some great collection.My favorite Ferrari has to still be the F40.

[mrm]

Long time since I posted in this thread. 

On 9/5/2022 at 1:24 PM, NYLIBUD said:

Wow that is some great collection.My favorite Ferrari has to still be the F40.

I love the F40 too, which in my opinion still is king of all supercars. Not because of its performance, which has been bettered by dozens of cars by now, but in character. 

Anyway... Here is some F40 material specially for you.

FERRARI F40 - KYOSHO - 1/18

Edited July 17, 2024 by mrm

[mrm]

Absolutely every single F40 ever made has left the factory in Rosso Corsa, more commonly known as Ferrari red. The confusion on the subject comes from a number of cars that were delivered in other colors, basically yellow and black. The sultan of Brunei also received some right hand drive samples and one of them was grey with full leather interior and Testarossa seats. However, all of these cars were modified from the original red LHD originals, which was the only way the model was produced by the Ferrari factory. 

    Kyosho, released the model also in yellow and did so before their red one. This particular model holds a special place in my collection as it was a present from my dad when he visited me from Europe back in 2007. I took him to the F1 USGP in Indianapolis and I believe the now defunct Exoticar were the first to offer the model in US and they premiered in their tent at that race.

FERRARI F40 - Kyosho - 1/18

 

Edited July 17, 2024 by mrm

[mrm]

More F40!!!

All of them are by Kyosho, all in 1/18.

 

[mrm]

I really can't judge if this thread is generating any interest. But I am going to switch gears slightly and go to the first Ferrari earning an F1 title.

1953 FERRARI 500F2- CMC - 1/18

 

Edited July 21, 2024 by mrm

[mrm]

Here is one from the previous year., but different manufacturer. 

1952 FERRARI 500F2 - Winner British Grand Prix Silverstone 1952Alberto Ascari - Exoto

[mrm]

Why not one more...

FERRARI 500 F2 - Winner, BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone, 1952- Rudy Fisher - Exoto - 1/18

[mrm]

The Ferrari 500F2 dominated 1952/53 and part of '54 F1 season. It won every race it entered in '52 and '53. It was used not only by the factory team, but also by privateers with great success. 

1953 FERRARI 500 F2 Long Nose - Jacques Swaters - Grand Prix of Berlin - Exoto - 1/18

[mrm]

The "wings" behind the front wheels on these cars were not aero bits. They served as shields in wet races to prevent spray from the front tires obstructing the driver's view in the rain. Those guys had some serious balls back then.

Ferrari Tipo 500/625 - Aintree International 200, 1954 - Reg Parnell - Exoto - 1/18

[mrm]

As you have probably already noticed, Ferrari did not always have V12s in their cars and actually has quite a rich history with 4 cylinder engines. 

And they weren't always red either. 

Ferrari 500/625 F1 - 1954 British Grand Prix - Louis Rosier - Exoto - 1/18